Table of contents
- 1. Introduction to Genetics51m
- 2. Mendel's Laws of Inheritance3h 37m
- 3. Extensions to Mendelian Inheritance2h 41m
- 4. Genetic Mapping and Linkage2h 28m
- 5. Genetics of Bacteria and Viruses1h 21m
- 6. Chromosomal Variation1h 48m
- 7. DNA and Chromosome Structure56m
- 8. DNA Replication1h 10m
- 9. Mitosis and Meiosis1h 34m
- 10. Transcription1h 0m
- 11. Translation58m
- 12. Gene Regulation in Prokaryotes1h 19m
- 13. Gene Regulation in Eukaryotes44m
- 14. Genetic Control of Development44m
- 15. Genomes and Genomics1h 50m
- 16. Transposable Elements47m
- 17. Mutation, Repair, and Recombination1h 6m
- 18. Molecular Genetic Tools19m
- 19. Cancer Genetics29m
- 20. Quantitative Genetics1h 26m
- 21. Population Genetics50m
- 22. Evolutionary Genetics29m
3. Extensions to Mendelian Inheritance
Overview of interacting Genes
Problem 1e
Textbook Question
Which of the following traits would you expect to be inherited as quantitative traits?
Coat color in dogs

1
Understand the concept of quantitative traits: Quantitative traits are traits that are influenced by multiple genes (polygenic inheritance) and often show a continuous range of variation, such as height, weight, or skin color. These traits are also influenced by environmental factors.
Determine if coat color in dogs could be a quantitative trait: Coat color in dogs can be influenced by multiple genes, such as those controlling pigment production, pigment distribution, and patterning. This suggests that coat color may exhibit polygenic inheritance.
Consider the variation in coat color: If coat color in dogs shows a wide range of shades and patterns (e.g., black, brown, white, brindle, merle), this supports the idea that it is a quantitative trait.
Evaluate the role of environmental factors: Quantitative traits are often influenced by the environment. For example, the appearance of coat color might be affected by factors like sunlight exposure or nutrition, further supporting its classification as a quantitative trait.
Conclude based on the evidence: Based on the polygenic inheritance, the continuous variation in coat color, and potential environmental influences, coat color in dogs is likely to be inherited as a quantitative trait.

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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Quantitative Traits
Quantitative traits are characteristics that are influenced by multiple genes and can be measured on a continuous scale, such as height, weight, or coat color. Unlike qualitative traits, which are typically determined by a single gene and exhibit distinct categories, quantitative traits show a range of phenotypes due to the additive effects of several alleles.
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Polygenic Inheritance
Polygenic inheritance refers to the phenomenon where multiple genes contribute to a single trait. Each gene may have a small effect on the phenotype, and the cumulative impact of these genes results in the continuous variation observed in traits like coat color in dogs, which can range from light to dark shades.
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Environmental Influence
Environmental factors can significantly affect the expression of quantitative traits. For example, the coat color in dogs may not only be determined by genetic factors but also influenced by environmental conditions such as temperature, nutrition, and exposure to sunlight, leading to variations in the phenotype that are not solely attributable to genetics.
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Related Practice
Multiple Choice
The relative time of divergence from a common ancestor between two species can be estimated by which of the following methods?
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